Packaging and dispensing frozen beverage forming concentrates



1954 J; H. KAUFFMAN PACKAGING AND DISPENSING FROZEN BEVERAGE FORMINGCONCENTRATES Filed July 9, 1952 Vf/FA TE 7 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 26,1954 PACKAGING AND DISPENSING FROZEN BEV- ERAGE FORMING CONCENTRATESJohn H. Kauifman, Eustis, Fla.

Application July 9, 1952, Serial No. 297,862

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the packaging and dispensing of foodconcentrates and most particularly to the provision of new and improvedpackages and methods of packaging and dispensing unpasteurized frostedor frozen beverage forming citrus and other fruit and/or vegetableconcentrates wherein the concentrates are sealed in cheap disposablecontainers in which they remain in storage at suitable temperaturesuntil use and in which they are diulted to the desired beverage strengthand dispensed.

In the preferred embodiment herein described and illustrated, myinvention comprises the use of paper cups containing predeterminedquantities of concentrate, nested in space saving stacks wherein anairproof seal is effectively achieved between the sidewalls of adjacentcups, particularly adapted for use in coin-operated and other dispensingmachines or units of extreme simpilicty, low cost and efiiiciency whilerequiring minimum servicing for maintaining them sterile and hygienic inoperation since their parts are never contacted by the concentrate. Thelatter is an important feature of the invention since unpasteurizedcitrus and other concentrates, in the presence of air, begin immediatelyto spoil of themselves, deposit upon and befoul and/r corrode metallic,plastic, and other surfaces with which they come in contact. Since,according to this invention, the concentrate remains always within theconfines of the cup and is exposed to the atmosphere only for a matterof a few seconds while water or other diluent is introduced into the cupand mixed therewith, immediately before removal of the cup and itscontents, this problem is effectively solved. By utilizing theprinciples of this invention unpasteurized frosted or fresh frozencitrus and other juice concentrates may be cheaply and efficientlypackaged, stored and dispensed commercially.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such methods andpackages wherein and whereby spoilage of unpasteurized frozen or frostedconcentrate is inhibited by prevention of direct air-concentrate contactwithin the packages or cups until the seals are broken prior to themixing and dispensing operations.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will clearlyappear from the following description taken with the drawing, forming apart thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, and partly in section, illustrating theupper end portion of a stack 2 of nested frozen concentrate containingdisposable containers in the form of modified commercial paper cupsaccording to one preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1 showing a modificationthereof, with the adjacent nested cups shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View, partly in elevation and partly in section,illustrating a modified form of cup with the cup spacing means formedintegrally therein and illustrating a modified, form of cup seal;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the cups shown in Fig. 3 andillustrating the application thereto of protective coatings and stripeor band coatings to enhance the intercup seal; and

Fig. 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating anotherform of cup seal or sealing means.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the cups 1 I, i2 and l 3 shown inFig. 1 are similar and are each formed by modification of a commercialpaper cup formed by a frusto-conical sidewall l4 turned over upon itselfat its upper end to form an annular bead or lip l5 and having a circulardisklike bottom wall It secured thereto in fluid-tight manner bycrimping. While cups of widely varying types and sizes are readilyadaptable and suited to the practice of my invention, the illustrativecommercial seven ounce (7 oz.) capacity cup shown in Fig. 1 and known inthe trade as the Dixie #27 is particularly adapted for such use tocontain 1 oz. of unpasteurized frosted or frozen fresh citrus or otherbeverage forming juice concentrate to which 4 oz. of water at suitabletemperature is added and mixed within the cup (I I, I2 or l3) to formthe unit dispensed which contains 6 oz. of beverage.

As shown in Fig. 1, these commercial cups are modified by the provisionof spacing means comprising annular bands or ring members Ilsecured insuitable manner, as hereinafter described, in suitable location on theexterior surfaces of the cup sidewalls l4. These spacing means ormembers I! are of such radial extent that a suitable spacing of thestacked or nested cups is effected to produce a space or chamber l8adapted to contain the above described desired predetermined quantity (1/2 oz.) of frosted or frozen concentrate I!) out of contact with thebottom portion of the cup next above'in the stack. While only threenested cups II, I 2 and I3 are shown as comprising the stack portionshown in Fig. 1, it is, of course, to be understood that the size orheights of the stacks formed and used according to this invention willbe dictated solely by convenience and space available.

The cups 2| and 22 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 are similar to oneanother and to the cups H, [2 and I3 described above and shown in Fig. 1except that the annular band or ring members 28 which are functionallyequivalent to the members H are secured in suitable location to theinteriorsid'ewall's I4 of the cupsi'l-and 22. Since the chamber orchamber portion l8 of the uppermost cup in a stack, such as 2! in Fig.2, is unsealed water instead of concentrate may be introduced and frozento forrrr'aapredeterrrrined:

quantity of ice as shown at 23in:.F.ig:y 2;. Biker- Wise, in order toinhibit working or, growth of bacteria, etc. in the fresh concentrate(such as" l9, Fig. 2), the air in the spacerabove thecon-- centrate ISin a chamber I8 of a cup (as 22) between that cup and the adjacent cup--(as 21) thereabove may be displaced by an inert gas introdiiced in: thatspace for-such purpose.

Anysuitable inert gas'. may be s-usedrto displace the air between cups=as shown: in Fig. 2 and de:- scribed above such as nitrogenorcarhondioxide. This: may; be eintroducedl in the air-space between cups bycarrying out: the cup: nesting; stacking or assembling operationiin:atmosphere of such gas or bysthe; introductionofan appropriate airdisplacing gas forming. pellet: or the like oniorabove=thezconcentratelflsin the chamber lBrbeforethe-sea-ling:ofrtheechambenby nesting ofjthe adjacent cup thereto ortherewith.

In the cupsvZAfand-lfi oiithezembodiment shown in=Figs; .35 and;4,,thezsidewalls: are provided with integrally formedcsealiformingming;orrband .mem-.- bers ZfiZ'WhiCh; becausezof;their'resiliency, firmlyengage; the interior; surface; of the sidewalli Ma. ofr th'e -cuptherebelow frictionallyrtoi-form .afluid tight seal while effecting thedesired aXialcup spacing: for formingrthe. concentrate containingchamber I82 as: described. above: Asshownin Fig;v 3, arsm-all. quantityoffwater: maybe introduced; between; the: sidewalls Ma of adjacentnested: cups" v (as; 2.41 and: 25:); and frozen; therein to produce" anannular; ice:v ring or band .member enhancing the; seal:effected:betweenthe; member 26iwhich .isdntegral with one. sidewall 1| 4a and :theinterior: surface of fthe: sidewall-J I 4a of the adjacent-cuptherebelow: Since the stack. of cups isxmaintained'at below freezing;temperatures-1 for preseryingrthetconcentrate. l 9', these ring; orbandmembers of: ice. W111i be; maintained-z. intact: Theseal-may-1ikewise:be:enhanced bygthewapplicationofz'azstripeeormarrowband coatinggasii (Fig, 4) of az-;.typehereinafterrdescribedz.

Itiis; of:cours e,=.torbeunderstoodthat the-.seal forrm'ngtmembers: Iand. 2 of the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2.may-rbe;formed, integrallywith the sidewalls: l4 of. the: cups thereof, as are the members .26 formediintegrally with the sidewalls Ma... Likewise; the:sealformingmembers H 29 and 2.63 maybe. located: at:,, any desired: locationheightwisenf the cupsz. Anadvantage in locating; thezseal formingmembers-;.as 2 6:'(Fig s: B-and 4) adjacent: the lowermost: portions of,the-cups is illustratedi in. Fig. 3. wherein. it: can: be readily notedthat-tthe betweenecupispace above the concentrate chamber l and theconcentrate;therein is:minimized and thenecessity: for: the introduction of-amair displacing inert'rgas, asxillustrated inFig. 2 is-:likewise' minimized;

The fluid tight-sealbetween theecupstl and 32 in the embodimentillustrated in Fig;. is effected by means comprising: a: pair of' spacedannular shoulders 33 and 34 formed integrally with the sidewalls Mb andforming between themselves an annular seat 35 for the annular resilientand/or adhesive band or gasket 35 which projects radially outwardlyslightly beyond the shoulders 33 and 34 to engage the interior surfaceof the sidewall Mb of the adjacent cup in the stack, as shown. As alsoshown in Fig. 5, a thin sheet or layer 31 of ice may be applied to thetop-surface of; the frosted or frozen" concentrate in the chambers l8 ofany of the cups of Figs. 1-5 to protect the concentrate 19 from exposureto the air entrapped between adjacent cups in a stack insteadmf theruseof an inert gas, as shown inil figr 2"t'o displace that air. This sealprovided by the sheet or layer 31 may be applied by introducingasuitable quantity of water to each cup; aboveethey-preyiously introducedconcentrate, and thereafter freezing this water to form the seal.--

The seal and spacingimembers I1, 20 (Figs. 1, 2 and: bands: or:gaskets-35: (Fig; 5D: mam-comprise res-ilient; material; suchas-;rubber;.plastici, etc... frictionallyr or: adhesiv-ely applied: to.the cup? sidewalls :or. cast. or formed;:directlyxthereon; They, may be:sufficiently: yielding to provide and maintain airetighti intercupsea1s,- after: being set under the"weight-:1 ofi the. cupsrinitha cupstacks; These Y members: may' likewise be: formed by'suchmaterialsas;pointed out-gabovmwhich are: thermoplastic: and subjectedi to;localizedv applications of heatzbeforethercups are:- nested and. setin:the stacks;

Where:- the; seah forming: members:v are formed integrally in, thecuprwa'lls: such; as 2 (Figs- 3 and:4;) .theaseal coatingssuch 3.8121];(Fig; 4 )1 may comprise any of: the; above-describ.ed:.materials of:which. the; members I1; 20".: and 36 may: be formed; applied: in likemanner or: they; may comprise wax or parafiin coatings. of; suitablethickness andimayyberheated-immediately before thewcups'arenested andset to form an: airtight: inter cup seal; In". forming; thestacks; offrozen concentrate: containing; cups: according; to this: invention;thetsuitable: quantity; of frosted? or. frozen-.concentratezimfluent:(i. e1, pourablei state is first introducedi into the individual; cupsand settledito level the-rtoprsurface of the-comcentrate.

The: cups are them nested: and the seals set. by application: of: axial;telescoping force-- to the stack-:to: render; them. air-tight; Then,- ifthe seals 1 are; thermoplastic, localized heat. and-.prese sureisiappliedztottlreq seal memberstoenhance the: tightness. of;thezinterecupr; seals; gas. is

to, displacethe: air: for inhibiting-1 spoilage-;. the nesting and:setting *operations;are; carried out in a.- suitable inert-gas;atmosphere: orpellets. or the; likesare: introduced;- above; theconcentrate; in eachv cup? before the-nesting; andzsetting; operations.

Alternately; ifj an-zice; seal: layer, such as. 31 (Fig. 5?). isto be.utilized a: suitable .quantity'oi water; isapplied: on: the; levelledvtop: surface: of the; settlediconcentratei I91:

If the seal, is.:to:be-a-ided.bm an-;ice=. ring. as in Fig. 3; a"suitable; quantity: of: Water is injected above thei'set' sealingzmember; therein: before' the succeeding cup isxnestediand: set.

After the desired number: of cups are nested and set; the complete:stack: iswpreferably subjBCtEdLtO' afreezing: operation and thezstackisready for sale as an article of commercei-or. for introduction to asuitable dispensinggunit: of; the type described above;

It v beadesirable im some; cases. and" espethereabove in a stack, thatthe uppermost cup in each stack be filled with a suitable quantity ofwater instead of concentrate in fluent state which Water when frozen (asshown in Fig. 2), will perform the necessary functions of a likequantity of concentrate which would be imperfectly protected unless aprotective ice layer such as 3! (Fig. 5) be formed in each cup of thestack.

From the above description it will clearly appear that I have providednew and improved methods of packaging and dispensing frosted or frozenbeverage forming concentrates particularly adapted to fresh orunpasteurized concentrates thoughpossessing various advantages for usein packaging pasteurized concentrates of the same general type and whichmethods embody new and improved packages for containing the concentratesin the absence of spoilage accelerating air from the packaging operationuntil the dispensing operation is completed thus materially simplifyingthe dispensing mechanism necessary and the servicing and upkeepnecessary for sanitary and hygienic operation thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending applicationSer. No. 99,828, filed June 17, 1949, now abandoned.

In order most clearly to illustrate the principles of this invention inthe drawing, the thickness and other dimensions of walls, coatings,etc., have been exaggerated and the shapes, forms and relativedimensions of seal forming members or portions of the various cupstructures have been modified and exaggerated; likewise, while theillustrative cup structures shown are of the type formed of papersheeting, it is comprehended and intended that the cups may be formed ofother materials and by other methods as for instance of molded paper andother pulps and compositions.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merelyillustrative and in nowise limitin and that I desire to comprehendwithin my invention such modifications as are included within the scopeof the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of packaging frozen beverage forming concentrates forstorage and dispensing purposes comprising introducing a predeterminedquantity of said concentrate in each space provided between a pluralityof predeterminedly spaced nested disposable cups and detachably sealingsaid cups together in fluid tight relation by a temperature responsiveseal remaining intact while said concentrate is frozen.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein, the fluid tight temperatureresponsive seal is applied between sidewalls of adjacent nested cups.

3. The method of packaging frozen beverage forming concentrates forstorage and dispensing purposes comprising introducing a predeterminedquantity of said concentrate in each of the chambers provided between aplurality of predeterminedly spaced nested paper cups, and detachablysealing said cups together in fluid tight relation by a temperatureresponsive seal remaining intact while said concentrate is frozen whiledisplacing the air between said cups by an inert gas.

4. In a method of packaging fresh frozen unsuch seals depends upon theweight of the cup or package unit pasteurized beverageformingconcentrates, by the steps which comprise introducing into the lower endof each of a plurality of disposable cups with frusto-conical sidewallsa'predetermined quantity of said concentrate in fluent state, nestingand maintaining said cups in predetermined axially spaced relation,sealing said predeterminedly spaced nested cups together in fluid tightrelation by a temperature responsive seal remaining intact while saidconcentrate is frozen, and subjecting the stack formed by said nestedcups to a freezing step fully to freeze and solidify said concentrate.

5. In a methodofv packaging fresh frozen beverage forming concentrate,the steps which comprise introducing into the lower end of each of aplurality of disposable paper cups with frusto-conical sidewalls apredetermined quantity of said concentratein fluent state, nesting andmaintaining said cups in predetermined axially spaced relation with anair-excluding inert gas filling the space between said nested cupsunfilled by said concentrate, sealing said predeterminedly spaced nestedcups detachably together in fluid tight relation by a temperatureresponsive seal remaining intact while said concentrate is frozen toprevent contact of said concentrate with air while said inter-cup sealis intact, and subjecting the stack formed by said concentrate loadednested cups to a freezing step to solidify and preserve said concentratefrom spoilage.

6. In a method of packaging unpasteurized beverage forming citrusconcentrate, the steps which comprise introducing into the lower end ofeach of a plurality of disposable paper cups with frusto-com'calsidewalls a predetermined quantity of said concentrate in fluent state,introducing a shallow sheet of water onto the upper surface of theconcentrate in each of said cups, nesting and maintaining said cups inpredetermined axially spaced relation, sealing said predeterminedlyspaced nested cups together in fluid tight relation by a temperatureresponsive seal remaining intact while said concentrate is frozen, andsubjecting the stack formed by said concentrate loaded nested cups to afreezing step to solidify said concentrate and convert the water sheetstherein into air-proof ice sealing layers protecting the concentratefrom direct contact with air.

7. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the concentrate is subjectedto a solidifying freezing step prior to introduction of the water sheetto prevent admixture of concentrate with the water.

8. A package for frozen beverage forming concentrates comprising aplurality of disposable cups having inclined sidewalls, said cups beingnested and disposed in predetermined axially spaced relation and formingtherebetween chambers each containing a predetermined quantity of saidfrozen concentrate therein, and temperature responsive sealing meansdisposed between adjacent cups in said stack to maintain said adjacentcups in said predetermined spaced relation while forming a detachablefluid tight seal therebetween remaining intact while said concentrate isfrozen.

9. A package as defined in claim 8, and temperature responsiveair-excluding sealing means protecting the concentrate in each of saidchambers comprising a relatively thin ice sheet covering saidconcentrate and remaining intact while said concentrate is frozen.

10. A package as defined in claim 8, said last named meansincluding anice sealing ring remainingiintact while. said' concentrate is-frozen.-11. Apackageas 'd'efined'in claim-8 forstoring and'dispensing.unpasteurized frozen citrus concentrate, said fluid tightseal'includingan ice' tity of beverage forming frozen concentrate, and

temperature responsive means on said cup 00- operating with similar cupsto formrastack of predeterminedly, axially spaced'concentrate containingcups connected by' fluid tight seals remaining intact whilesaidconcentrate is froze-a.

13. A new article, ofcommerce consisting of a disposable paper. cuphaving anannular inclinedsidewall, a single drink forming. quantity offresh frozen, beverage. forming. concentrate within said, cup at thelowerend thereof, and a thin-sheetof ice covering the upper surface-ofsaid concentrate forming a temperaturerespom sive air-excludingseal forsaid'concentrate and remaining-intact while'said concentrate is maintained frozen.

JOHN H. KAUFFMAN.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,137,039 Weber Apr. 27, 1915 1,709,168 Epperson Apr. 16, 19291,770,118 Williams July 8, 1930 1,889,111 Serr Nov. 29, 1932 2,062,897Michel etal. Dec. 1, 1936 2,091,723 Sterino Aug. 31, 1937 2,522,221Gorton Sept. 12, 1950

1. THE METHOD OF PACKAGING FROZEN BEVERAGE FORMING CONCENTRATES FORSTORAGE AND DISPENSING PURPOSES COMPRISING INTRODUCING A PREDETERMINEDQUANTITY OF SAID CONCENTRATE IN EACH SPACE PROVIDED BETWEEN A PLURALITYOF PREDETERMINEDLY SPACED NESTED DISPOSABLE CUPS AND DETACHABLY SEALINGSAID CUPS TOGETHER IN FLUID TIGHT RELATION BY A TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVESEAL REMAINING INTACT WHILE SAID CONCENTRATE IS FROZEN.